Introduction

The Supplementary Schools Education Service acknowledges the importance and values of religious education in Supplementary Schools that provide an environment aimed at creating confidence and self-esteem within a cultural context through moral and spiritual learning.

Bradford’s minority ethnic pupils’ add great value to the language diversity of the district through developed potential bilingualism. There are many pupils from a wide range of heritages including South Asian and Eastern European. International research shows that the development of home languages alongside English works to benefit the competence and confidence in both languages. These linguistic skills may enable them to access the curriculum fully and provides a platform for good levels of educational attainment in other subject areas.

The LEA has been providing support to Supplementary Schools for mother tongue teaching since 1983. There are over 80 Supplementary Schools registered with Education Bradford providing a range of mother tongue teaching classes in Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Panjabi, Hindi, Polish, Italian and Urdu as the main languages. These schools cater for approximately 8,000 minority ethnic pupils involving 300 community tutors.

The budget contributes towards:

• Text books and other resources associated with mother tongue teaching
• Training for supplementary tutors
• GCSE and `A’ level Examination fees
• Special projects/initiatives e.g. PALS – Pupils Assisted Learning Scheme.

Supplementary Schools have an integral part to play in continuing to provide complementary learning outside school hours.

Bradfords Supplementary Schools have a range of objectives:

• To raise pupils motivation and achievement, through the provision of high quality language teaching and Study Support for school curriculum subjects
• To provide facilities for religious instruction in accordance with parents wishes in an atmosphere which reflects their faith
• To provide facilities to teach children their community language
• To promote their own cultural identity through their religion and community languages
• To improve communication through linguistic competence between parents, children and relatives in other countries in order to preserve religious and cultural traditions/identity
• To help children towards emotional stability and gaining self-confidence
• To create self-esteem within a cultural context.

The Council's Policy.

Education Bradford believes the main benefit accrued through education and pupils' attending Supplementary Schools is the potential for raising pupil’s motivation and achievement. Supplementary Schools, through the provision of high quality language teaching and study support for school curriculum subjects have much to offer to this strategy. Ensuring quality of teaching and learning must, therefore, be the aim of all our Supplementary Schools. Developing greater partnership with mainstream schools and support for the training of teachers and enhancing support for pupils, will continue to be one of our priorities.

Supplementary Schools Provision.

Education Bradford acknowledges the importance and the value of religious education in Supplementary Schools. Such schools provide an environment aimed at creating confidence and self-esteem within a cultural context through moral and spiritual learning. The Supplementary Schools grant is to be focused on teaching community languages, supporting basic skills acquisition and/or complementing other school curriculum subjects such as Mathematics, English etc.

Support Available from Education Bradford

a. Provision of advice to community groups:

There is a requirement that all organisations supported by the Education Bradford have appropriate planning permission for the use of their premises. They are also required to provide up to date evidence of insurance for public liability and comply with Health and Safety, and fire regulations.

Education Bradford will provide advice and guidance of these requirements to organisations with their own premises.

b. Type of Projects eligible:

Projects undertaken under the heading of Supplementary Schools can range from:

• mother tongue teaching, i.e. community languages teaching
• any subject of the National Curriculum where pupils have an additional opportunity outside school hours e.g. mathematics, English etc
• basic learning & development skills

c. Provision of financial assistance:

Supplementary Schools may apply for financial assistance for:

• text books and other resources associated with mother tongue teaching
• training for tutors/teachers
• examinations fees for pupils sitting GCSE's in community languages where they are not paid for by their schools

and

• towards rental of premises or an element of subsidy for heating and lighting for organisations with their own premises.

Grant giving Conditions.

Education Bradford will require each organisation to agree to the following conditions in order to receive grant:

• to provide a list of all pupils attending the Supplementary School with details of their mainstream school

• to provide numbers of tutors, their experience/qualifications

• to provide information stating the subject/s covered over the year together with overall progress on levels of attainment.

• to provide appropriate documentary evidence for relevant planning permission, plus insurance, health and safety and fire regulations.

• to provide a copy of the organisation’s aims and objectives and constitution and any specific information on the supplementary school itself e.g. the annual report.

N.B. As the project involves working with children/young people it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, Section 4(2) by virtue of the Rehabilitation Act 1974 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 1986. In order to comply with the guidelines laid down by Home Office Regulations all tutors working with children will be required to complete a CRB disclosure application form. 

Organisations must also demonstrate the need for a Supplementary School in a particular locality, i.e.

• what gaps do you aim to fill?
• what evidence do you have of the need for your class?
• how this would complement school provision?

Failure to comply with any of the above requests can result in applications not being considered.

For more information please contact Jani Rashid.

Tel : 01274 - 385619

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Resources for Supplementary Schools may be obtained from the Interfaith Education Centre between 1.30 and 4.30 Tuesday and Thursday.

Tel:  01274 - 414787 

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